System and method for a solid-state thermal battery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy storage solutions face challenges such as material sourcing issues, high costs, and performance limitations, particularly in thermal energy storage systems that rely on molten materials and turbine-based heat engines, which suffer from inefficiency and mechanical failure risks due to thermal gradients.
Innovation Solution
A solid-state thermal battery system utilizing actuated heat engines to control the location relative to a thermal storage medium, reducing thermal gradients and mitigating mechanical shock, while using a stationary thermal storage medium and thermophotovoltaic heat engines to convert heat into electricity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If heat is extracted from the surface of a storage medium faster than the heat can flow through the volume, then high power output is achieved, but a large thermal gradient develops causing mechanical failure
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal storage medium is divided into multiple discrete blocks arranged in an array. This segmentation allows heat extraction to occur at multiple locations simultaneously through multiple heat engines, distributing the thermal gradient stress across individual blocks rather than creating a single large gradient that would cause mechanical failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a conventional single-location heat extraction approach to a multi-dimensional approach where heat engines can be positioned at various locations around the thermal storage blocks. The actuated heat engines move along passageways defined by the block array, enabling heat extraction from multiple spatial dimensions simultaneously, thus achieving high power output without excessive thermal gradients at any single point.
2Use of energy by moving object
If molten storage medium is pumped through pipes and heat exchangers, then heat transport is achieved, but numerous problems and risks arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic moving molten material component from the system. Instead of pumping molten storage medium through pipes and heat exchangers, the invention uses solid thermal storage blocks that remain stationary. Heat is extracted by moving heat engines along the outside of the blocks, eliminating the risks associated with transporting high-temperature molten materials while maintaining effective heat transport capability.
3Power
If turbine-based heat engines are used, then heat conversion is achieved, but efficiency rates and scalability are inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional turbine-based mechanical heat engines with thermophotovoltaic (TPV) heat engines. TPV technology uses photovoltaic cells to directly convert thermal radiation into electricity, eliminating the mechanical moving parts and lubrication systems required by turbines. This substitution achieves higher efficiency rates and improved scalability while reducing maintenance requirements.
4Reliability
If a stationary thermal storage medium is used, then material transport risks are avoided, but heat extraction efficiency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic heat engines that can move along the stationary thermal storage blocks. The actuated heat engines travel along passageways defined by the block array, allowing the system to maintain a stationary, safe thermal storage medium while achieving high heat extraction efficiency through the movement of the conversion devices. This dynamic approach enables multiple heat engines to access different portions of the storage medium simultaneously.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves high power and energy capacity with reduced thermal gradient risks, providing an efficient, scalable, and cost-effective energy storage solution that avoids the transport of high-temperature molten materials and extends the operational lifespan of the system.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing actuated heat engines to control a location relative to a thermal storage medium associated with the conversion of heat into electrical energy
Implementation Method 2
an insulated container, a thermal storage medium enclosed within the insulated container
Data Source
AI summary
A solid-state thermal battery system is disclosed herein. The system includes a stationary thermal storage medium that can be charged by adding heat to the thermal storage medium. Actuated heat engines can be utilized to discharge the solid-state thermal battery, converting the heat stored in the thermal storage medium into electricity. The heat engines are actuated in a manner that reduces thermal gradients in the thermal storage medium to increase the efficiency of the system. In one embodiment, the thermal storage medium is contained in a main chamber of an insulated container. The heat engines are stored, when idle, in an ancillary chamber adjacent to the main chamber and moved into the main chamber by an actuation system to begin discharging the solid-state thermal battery. The heat engines follow a path during discharge to dynamically move between regions of the thermal storage medium to reduce thermal gradients induced therein.